Newhouse Introduces Reauthorization for the Emergency Relief Program to Assist Farmers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) released the following statement after introducing legislation with 21 other members to reauthorize the Emergency Relief Program (formerly known as WHIP+). The ERP offers critical assistance to agricultural producers whose crops were impacted by natural disasters that occurred in 2022.

“The Emergency Relief Program is a necessary resource for Central Washington farmers as they continue to recover from this year’s late spring, which significantly impacted tree fruit production,” said Rep. Newhouse. “I am pleased to introduce this legislation and encourage my colleagues to support this important program that will provide much-needed assistance to Central Washington’s growers so they can continue producing the high-quality Washington crops Americans enjoy for many years to come.”

ERP is a vital program that provides desperately needed payments to agricultural producers to offset losses from wildfires, drought, hurricanes, derechos, freeze, polar vortex, excessive heat and other qualifying natural disasters. This relief is critical as prolonged drought, severe weather events and natural disasters continue to wreak havoc on crops and livestock.

You can read the full text of the bill here.

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